Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-01-12
miscellaneous &eadina.
PROSPERITY OF THE STATE.

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PROSPERITY OF THE STATE.
The Charleston Ne,rs and Courier of the
1st instant publishes an elaborate review of
the agricultural and industrial development
of South Carolina during the past year. In
an editorial analysis it says:
The review of the condition of South Car
olina which is published to-day, presents to
the public some unexpected and most graft
flying results. It shows a far better condi-
ton of things than could have been antici-
pated, and justifies the expectation that the
troubles of the people are approaching a
close.
In the year 1886, III miles ofrailway were
built in the State, and the total mileage
now amounts to 1854. The freight tonnage
of the railroads has increased from ,O67 1908
in 1879 to 2,1O3, ,573 in 1886, while the total
income has increased from 81, los, ,O4O in 1879
to Sc, ,429, ,2S9 in the year just ended. These
figures show in themselves the growth of
business in the State.
In manufactures, the results are magical
and marvellous. The number of manufactur.-
ing establishments in the State has increased
from /, ,23O in 1860 to 8, ,242 in 1886. The capi-
tai invested has increased from 6,93l ,756 to
$2l 1927 $40. The numberOf hands employed
is 33,378 in 1886, against 6,9O4 in 1860, and
8, S,l4O in 1870 The value of the product is
$29, ,95l, ,55l. The cotton mills give employ
ment now to 1889 persons. Close behind
them come the fertilizer factories, with pro-
ducts valued at So, 1900. Roughly speak
ing, one person finds employment in the
cotton mills for every thousand dollars of
one person is employed to every three thou
sand dollars of capital. This exemplifies
the Importance of cotton manufactures as
furnishing abundant occupation. Taking
the manufactures as whole, one person Is
employed for every six hundred of capital.
On the basis of production, each hand is rep
resented by 1897. The statistics now given
are we'll worthy of close consideration.
1t is estimated that the value of agrlcul-
tural and garden productions for 1886 was
S44, ,109, SOL, and the value of the corn alone
was nearly half the value of the cotton crop.
There is food for thought in this, and there
is still more in the little table which gives
the gross value per acre of the principal
crops in South Carolina. Cotton is no Ion
ger King, at least in South Carolina. Irish
potatoes lead the list, with 4 value of S8S
per acre, as against $l2 for cotton.
There is complaint on all sides that the
agricultural interests-the bone and sinew
of the State-are in bad way, and perhaps
the information which is now published,
will show good reason for it. 1t is shown,
for instance, that South Carolina consumed
last year 3s, 430 ,425 pounds of bacon, which
was made in other States. Putitat six cents
pound and the cost was over S2,OOO, ,OOO.
South Carolina imported likewise 1,S90,654
bushels of grain, 1,017 ,202 pounds of meal ,
together with 275,056 pounds of peas and
1896, 100 pounds of miscellaneous provis-
ions. This was not dead loss, but the five
million dollars or more spent by South Car
olina for provisions which can be raised at
home, in connection with other crops, far
more cheaply than they can be bought, will
account in large measure for the present
poverty Of the people.
Looking over the list it is seen that the
gross annual income, the total revenue OF
the people ofthe State, has steadily increased
in spite of the uniform decline in market
prices. We think it can be demonstrated
that the gross income of the people, man
for man, is far larger to-day than it was in
1860. Besides this, there is the great fact
that dollar now goes farther than before.
In comparison with 1865 or 1870, it is safe to
say that dollar to-day is as good as dollar
and half.
AS shown in our review, the total value
of the farm products of the State last year
was s44, los, sol. This is very nearly as m iich
as the value of farm products in 1860. Add
to the agricultural products the products in
different branches of manufactures, and the
products of the mines and quarries, and it
is evident that the total income Of the pe0-
pie from the three sources must amount to
80 per cent. more than the amount in 1860,
when the slave system was supposed to
make the State so prosperous. Here is Il
rough table Of the results: